State inertia coupled with absence by the trial magistrate and witnesses in some instances, have both combined to further delay Vice President Constantino’s former wife, Marry Mubaiwa’s attempted murder trial. Her trial was Tuesday postponed for the third time this month due to the unavailability of the magistrate.
Similarly, on 7 September, former health deputy minister John Mangwiro, a key witness in the matter, also did not turn up. When the case returned on September 13, court could not sit either because the trial magistrate was on leave.
Mubaiwa is accused of attempts to finish off her then husband when the former military commander was battling for life from an ailment at a South African hospital back in 2019. During past trial episodes, Mangwiro said Chiwenga was airlifted to China to get medical treatment after the alleged attempt on his life.
“I reported the incident to the President.
“I would update him on the interference that she (Mubaiwa) was causing.
“He was very worried about whether she wanted him dead.
“We were all very worried and the agreement was that he needed to be in a very safe place; so, we decided to take him to China,” Mangwiro said.
He said when they finally took Chiwenga to China, his chest drain had been removed by Mubaiwa. Mangwiro is now expected to take the witness’s stand on October 23 when trial continues. The medical doctor will be cross-examined by Beatrice Mtetwa, lawyer for Mubaiwa who denies the charge.
